Nevada Jobless rate up slightly in February

Thursday, March 25, 1999 | 11:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's unemployment rate inched up to 3.5 percent in February with an estimated 34,100 people out of work. But the Las Vegas economy remained strong.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation today said the February rate was two-tenths of a percentage point higher than in January but was lower than the national rate of 4.4 percent and California's rate of 5.6 percent.

Department Director Carol Jackson said the state's low unemployment continues as "does the tight labor market and economic stability." She said department economists see little change in the good times.

Unemployment in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area fell to 3.3 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from January. There were an estimated 23,900 people out of work in the area that includes Clark and Nye counties in Nevada and Mohave County in Arizona. That's 1,500 individuals fewer than in January.

Washoe County posted a 4.1 percent unemployment rate with 7,200 people jobless. That's slightly up from the 3.9 percent in January. The Carson City labor market area reported a 5.7 percent rate, up from 5.4 percent in January. This area covers Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties and Carson City.

Elko and Eureka counties had a 5.4 percent rate, down one-tenth of a percentage point from January.

Jackson said new job creation remains steady with Nevada's over-the-year growth at 5.3 percent, which continues to outpace all other states. She said this is due to a number of new businesses either opening or planning to open in the new future.

The department said there were 942,200 jobs last month, which is 47,800 more than a year ago in February in the state.

The construction industry had 83,700 employed, up 8.4 percent; manufacturing was at 41,900 jobs, up 1.7 percent; transportation rose 3.4 percent to 48,300 jobs; trade was up 5.8 percent to 193,000; the services industries, which includes hotels and gaming, reported 400,600 jobs, up 5.4 percent; and government employment rose to 116,900, an increase of 5 percent.

In the Las Vegas area, there were 681,900 people employed, up 6.4 percent from a year ago. Construction rose 8.1 percent to 67,800 jobs; manufacturing was up 2.7 percent to 22,800 jobs; transportation posted a 4.2 percent increase to 34,900 jobs; trade increased 6.5 percent to 141,600; service industries rose 6.3 percent to 303,700 jobs and government was up 6.5 percent to 74,900 jobs.